Bugatti Vitesse Hits 254 MPH

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Bugatti may have lost its top speed record, but it has reaffirmed its claim on the world's fastest roadster title.

Of all the bragging rights a supercar can claim, few are as hotly contested as top speed. Bugatti, SSC and Hennessey have all laid claim to the record in recent years, but authorities recently stripped the Veyron Super Sport of its title because customer examples were limited to 258 mph – short of the 267.86 mph set by the derestricted car. While Bugatti may not be ready to reclaim that particular record just yet, it has reportedly further entrenched the Vitesse version’s standing as the world’s fastest convertible.

A top speed of 254.04 mph (faster than the 233 mph original set by the top-spec roadster) was achieved at VW's Ehra-Lessien proving grounds by Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu. To commemorate the occasion, Bugatti is set to unveil a new limited-edition Vitesse with the initials WRC. Standing for World Record Car (not World Rally Championship as you might suspect), the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse WRC Edition will feature a unique black and orange livery (similar to the Super Sport) that will be unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 20. The 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16, however, remains unchanged at 1,184 horsepower.